Credit ratings, more commonly referred to as “credit scores” can often be the source of much distress. Simple, everyday decisions can severely impact a person’s personal credit score. Once damaged, a poor credit score can take years to fully restore. For this reason, financial responsibility should always be a primary focus. The trouble is, life can be complicated and in hard times, a person’s credit can take a quick hit. In response to credit struggles, here are 5 simple ways that you can improve your credit score.

Stop using your credit cards. It’s that simple. If you can’t afford it, don’t buy it. Put them away, or for those who possess less willpower, cut them up. It’s impossible to accrue more debt if you put a stop to purchasing on credit.

Avoid new credit applications. If you’ve applied to one, you’ve applied to them all. A new credit card is not going to serve as the answer to your problems. Ignore enticing offers and flashy incentives. It’s time to focus on cleaning up your act. Keep in mind that each time you submit an application for a new card, your credit report takes a hit. Multiply this by several applications and the result can be detrimental to a declining score.

Review and correct your credit report. Numerous resources that allow you to obtain a free copy of your credit report are available online. Locate a copy of your credit report, review the details periodically and be sure to note any errors. You have the right to have mistaken entries corrected. A small typo or inaccurate record could cause considerable damage to your credit score.

Maintain existing lines of credit. For those who are looking to clean up their credit, many often jump to the conclusion that it’s best to cancel existing credit cards. The thought of doing away with these accounts is freeing, as a clean slate is often quite attractive to those in turmoil. The thing is, canceling an existing line of credit will likely have a negative impact on your credit score. In simple reporting terms it’s unclear as to why you chose to terminate the account and this move will not be reflected favorably on your credit report.

Create a payback schedule. So you’ve halted your credit card spending, you’re no longer applying for new lines of credit, and you’ve taken steps to ensure that your current credit report is accurate. Now that you are serious about improving your rating, it’s time to create a payback schedule. Review your current budget, make the necessary adjustments and determine how much money you are able to apply to your credit cards each month. Every little bit helps. Establish a plan and commit to it. Many credit card companies offer services to create payment plans that will help you get back on track. Another optionis to find a 0% balance transfer offer that will allow you to save money on interest and chip away at you debt. Though we have mentioned that opening multiple accounts may negatively impact your credit history, a balance transfer deal that save you money will help you both long and short-term.

Once you’ve decided to take positive action towards improving your credit score, everything should fall into place. Follow these simple steps; though remember to be patient as your rating won’t improve overnight.